Tag Archives: God

Christian Living, Guests

Fire Ants

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We were a bit off kilter this weekend and on Saturday my beloved omitted the reading of Our Daily Bread at breakfast. So he had some additional reading this morning.

The writer of Saturday’s ODB was David McCasaland and it was entitled Stick Together.  He talked about fire ants. You know those pesky creatures that hurt like the mischief when they sting you? This is what Mr. McCasaland reported about them:

“For years, scientists have wondered how fire ants, whose bodies are denser than water, can survive floods that should destroy them. How do entire colonies form themselves into life rafts that can float for weeks? A Los Angeles Times article explained that engineers from the Georgia Institute of Technology discovered that tiny hairs on the ants’ bodies trap air bubbles. This enables thousands of the insects, “which flounder and struggle in the water as individuals,” to ride out the flood when they cling together.”

And if you will click HERE and read the devotion you will see a spiritual correlation of ‘sticking together’ in the Body of CHRIST for the good of us all. And I believe Scripture bears that out.

However, what I was reminded of this morning as my beloved read was this:

Psalm 19:1-3 The Message (MSG)

1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
via Psalm 19:1-3 MSG – A David Psalm – God’s glory is on tour – Bible Gateway.

And from there, here:

Romans 1:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
via Rom 1:20 NLT – For ever since the world was created, – Bible Gateway.

And how about this translation:

Romans 1:20 New Century Version (NCV)

20 There are things about him that people cannot see—his eternal power and all the things that make him God. But since the beginning of the world those things have been easy to understand by what God has made. So people have no excuse for the bad things they do.
via Romans 1:20 NCV – There are things about him that people – Bible Gateway.

And from there, here:

Psalm 14:1 King James Version (KJV)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.   . . .  

via Psalm 14:1 KJV – The fool hath said in his heart, There – Bible Gateway.

There are a few of ABBA’s creatures that I am not wild about but I can learn something about HIM from each of them and when those creatures I am not wild about invade my space I learn something about me!

HE IS AWESOME! ALL WISE and ALL KNOWING. We act like fools when we don’t trust Him. Would you agree?

ABBA, thank You for this morning’s thoughts; I pray we will all ponder them until they have a niche in our hearts that will control how we think, what we say and how we respond to Your Creation, those we like and those we don’t. I know You understand. Thank You for the smile.  Thank You for the privilege of communication and thank You for each one who comes here to read and pray and for them and for myself I pray we will have ears to hear and eyes to see the things You desire to individually show us today. I pray for peace and safety in each life and for each burden and care that they bring here, shared with this ministry and not shared, I ask for strength to trust You and for You to heal our sick and wounded and comfort those grieving. I pray for wisdom and practical helps for families and for prodigal sons and daughters to soon find themselves in their respective pig pens and come home to You and to their families. No person in my ‘world’, ABBA, is without conflicts; thank You that You are more than sufficient for all our troubles; help us lean on You, rest our whole selves upon You in JESUS name and for His sake. Amen and . . . .    .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Christian Living, Prayer Requests

Good (Message)

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Friday morning, Friends. It’s a sunshiny day in lower Alabama!

So! Happy plans for the weekend anyone?

I’m about blank of anything to write this morning, So, I again went to my JOURNEY magazine. Revolt or Respect? It read.
Good message in our political climate.
Good message in a work environment.
Good message in family dynamics.
Good Message.

It talked of a school principal having made a decision his teachers did not understand, nor did they agree was good and reasonable. Short tempers flared. Words were flung. Conspiracies for dissensions were devised as the teachers began to file from the room.  Except for one.

Listen in with me (again) as our heroine is described:

“Amidst the arguing and accusations, I began to hear the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT beckoning me to show Mr. Tate respect and honor, even if I didn’t agree with his position. By the time the meeting had adjourned and other teachers began to exit in small groups, huddling together and murmuring about their plans of dissension, I had determined to steer clear of the angry talk. If I needed to address Mr. Tate about his decision it would only be later after I’d prayed about things and could speak with gentleness, self-control, and respect.”

I know of NO relationship wherein this is not the proper action!  And in this very moment, the precious HOLY SPIRIT brings to mind a verse of Scripture for us. Excuse me while I go find the reference to copy and paste it for us here. 

Oh my! Verse 19 is where He starts us —

James 1: 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
via James 1 NASB – Testing Your Faith – James, a – Bible Gateway.

Who does not want to be blessed in what she (he) does?
For sure, for sure the HOLY SPIRIT is saying to us today if we want to be blessed, we must be quick to hear and slow to speak.  And that’s only the beginning.

JOURNEY concluded with a poignant question and counsel. 

“Is the LORD asking you to act contrary to the way of the crowd?
Yield to Him and He will strengthen you.”

The Word stings, ABBA, but it’s a good sting to me. Good as a scalpel that cuts away what is harmful. HOLY SPIRIT, do Your perfect work here in us with Your Word.  Indeed You are asking, commanding, us to act differently than the crowd and You have promised to strengthen us. We accept Your command and Your strength to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to get angry, quick to hear and do as You have written, to look intently at Your perfect law of liberty and receive Your blessings.  Thank You, ABBA. Thank You. 

And, ABBA, thank You. We see Your hand in this and we wait to see Your glory revealed in this. I am mindful in this moment of another trial of another sort, it’s a cancer of another kind, the kind that eats a person’s soul and hurts others; You know the parties in mind and even others I do not know and I pray You will lead them all, guide them to proper counsel, legal and Christian, to process this.  I pray for restoration.  For all the suffering(s) that has been brought here, HOLY SPIRIT, we pray for Your intervention and Your glory. Amen and . . . .   .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Kathie 

Prayer Requests

A Priority Concern

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of mine this morning is Sheila.

Sheila is my Baby Girl’s Mother-in-law. We learned last week after a biopsy that Sheila has pancreatic cancer. Since the biopsy she has been so very ill; we are presently into our second hospitalization since the biopsy. We so very much covet your prayers as we walk this season.

My Journey this morning is about the suffering we are allowed to bear, that it is intended for His Glory. We are believing that.

This comes to mind:

Psalm 23: 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
via Psalm 23 KJV – The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not – Bible Gateway.

I will fear no evil; for thou art with me

I am noting that it does not say that evil will not come; most assuredly it will; it has! But David chose to fear not because THE SHEPHERD was with him. HIS rod and staff would comfort David.

What is true for David is true for us, for you.

Thank You, ABBA. Thank You, HOLY SPIRIT, for Your ministry of bringing to our remembrance, You said You would and You have and You will. Thank You. This pancreatic cancer we equate with evil, meant to kill and destroy but we look for YOUR GLORY in it and, HOLY SPIRIT, we ask and thank You in advance for every strength and good comfort that will come as You prompt dear ones to pray for Sheila, for the family. It hits hard; particularly the tender, tender heart of our Baby Girl. Thank You for Your comfort and strength and in this moment I ask You unashamedly and with boldness that You will remove the cancer and let Sheila continue to live here with us. And I must not stop with Sheila, there are others in this circle of dear ones that have burdens just as bitter and hard and for them we pray for healing as well. And I am reminded too of another kind of hurt; that needs wisdom and counsel; you know all the ends and out of it and I ask You to bring alongside people to help and bring information and means to get the job done. Thank You, ABBA. And for every one who comes here to read and pray, I ask that the minds of our hearts be enlightened and our knowledge and love for You increase mightily.  Amen and . . .   .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Assurance - Promise, You Tubes

Quiet

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can be good.

At the reading of this I hope all of you have rested well; at the writing of this I am fading fast, looking forward to sleep. It has been a quiet Resurrection Sunday for us, albeit a long one. Sunrise service at 6:30; Sunday School, praise and message, lunch, a leisurely ride and a stop at the store for oranges before getting home a bit ago. And through it all has been the sense of His love and presence.  JESUS! Oh what a Savior!!

Psalm 68:
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.

35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!
via Psalm 68 NASB – The God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary. – Bible Gateway

Go forth into this new week trusting Him and receiving His strength through it all.

Thank You, ABBA. You are forever faithful to us. It has been a beautiful day; thank You. And now I pray for all who come here to read and pray that each will receive Your strength for every challenge. Amen and . . .   .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!